Machine for ruling photographic screens.



No, 679,070. Patented July 2 3, mm. E. FLORA.

MACHINE FOR BULING PHOTOERAPHIG SCREENS.

(Application filed my 7, 1898. Renewed Dec. 29, 1900.) (No Model.) I 4 Sheets-$haet l.

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No. 679,070.. Patented July 23. |9o| E. E. FLORA. MACHINE FOR BULING PHUTQGR APHIC SCREENS.

(Application filed May '7, 1898. Rnawed Dec. 29, 1900.)

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(No Model.)

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No. 679,070. Patented July 23, won.

. -E. E. FLORA.

MACHINE FDR RULING PHO TDGBAPHIG SCREENS.

(Application filed my 7, 1898. Renewed Dec. 29, 1900.) (No Model.) 4 Sihoaets-Siheotv 3.

No. 679,070. Patented. July 23, 19m.

E. E. FLORA.

MACHINE FOB BULING PHOTOGBAPHIC, SCREENS.

(N0 Modbl.)

(Application filed m 7, 1898. Renewed Dec. 29, 1900.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT Germs.

ELLSWORTH E. FLORA, OF CHICAGO,YILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO DWIGHT K. TRIPP, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR RULING PH OTOGRAPHIC SCREENS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,070, dated July 23, 1901.

Application filed May 7, 1898. Renewed December 29, 1900. Serial No. 41,496. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELLSWORTH E. FLORA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Ruling Photographic Screens, Films, or Papers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of myinvention is to make a machine on which flexible screens, films, or papers may be ruled for photographic purposes, either for use in color photography or other photomechanical work; and my invention consists in the features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of my improved ruling-machine Fig. 2, a transverse sectional view on lines 2 of Figs. 1 and 3. Figs. 3 and 4 are plan sectional views taken on lines 3 and 4, respectively, of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a broken sectional elevation taken on line 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, an enlarged broken elevation showing the ruling device and a portion of the cylinder, and Fig. 7 a broken elevation of a portion of the film after it is ruled.

In making my improved machine for ruling screens, films, or paper for photographic purposes I employ a bed-plate A, which may be of cast-iron, marble, or other sufficiently firm and rigid material, although I prefer to make the bed-plate of metal. The bed-plate is made of a desired size and preferably so that it can rest upon a table or stand adapted to receive it and hold it at a suitable height for convenient use. I mount on the bedplate vertical standards or supporting-crack ets a and a. The standards or brackets 61. are intended to support a portion ofthe rul ing mechanism, and the brackets ct are preferably connected or united together by rods 0. so that they form practically a single divided bracket. All of the brackets or standards are intended to be secured to the base-plate firmly and rigidly by bolts or screws or in any other suitable Way.

I arrange apulley B between the brackets or, preferably provided with a circumferential groove in its periphery to receive a cord, which is intended to pass around another pulley, (not shown,) which may be driven by an electric motor or other means, so as to impart rotation to the pulley B and the shaft 1),

on which it is mounted. This shaft is sup ported in journals b in the upper part of the brackets a. To further support the pulley B, I prefer to use supplementary brackets b 5 5 attached to the brackets a by screws, as shown in Fig. 5, or in any other desired way. These supplementary brackets carry a short hollow shaft B, upon which the pulley B is rigidly mounted, so that the two will rotate together. The bore of the short shaft 13 is intended to be somewhat larger in diameter than the diameter of the .shaft 1), as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. The short hollow shaft B and the driving-shaft b are intended to be connected so as to rotate together, and

to this end I provide the driving-shaft with a keyway b (shown in Fig. 5, where the shaft is broken away) and the short hollow shaft B with a key I), which engages loosely in the keyway of the driving-shaft, so that the driving-shaft will be permitted a longitudinal movement in the one direction or the other, as may be required in the operation of the machine.

The driving-shaft bis connected to a screwshaft 0 by means of a universal joint B This universal joint is preferably a double universal joint; but as I shall probably not claim any ofthe details of this joint connection I need not describe its various parts more fully or minutely. The screw-shaft is supported in bearings or journals 0 and 0', arranged in the upper portions of the supporting brackets or standards Cb. The bear-' ing 0 is internally screw threaded with threads of a desired fineness. It may have one hundred or any desired number of threads to the inch. The portion of the screw-shaft which passes through the journal or bearing c is externally screw-threaded with threads of the same fineness or number to the inch as are the internal threads of the journal. As the screw-shaft is rotated through the instrumentality of the driving-shaft, it will move longitudinallyin the one direction or the other with a degree of rapidity proportioned to the number of threads to the inch with which it is provided. The driving and screw shafts are adapted to be rotated in both directions,

so that they may be caused to travel back and forth, according to whether they are rotated in the one direction or the other.

I mount on the screw-shaft a cylinder D, which may be of any desired diameter, but which as I have the machine constructed and in use is about three inches in diameter. This cylinder is fast with the screw-shaft, so that it is rotated with it. It is intended to carry a flexible screen, film, or paper d, Wrapped around it, as shown in Fig. 2. The meeting edges of the flexible screen or film may be held at theirjuncture by pasting a strip of paper d over them, as shown in Fig. 2. The

film or paper thus arranged is held smooth and tight around the cylinder, so that it will not wrinkle or buckle and so that it will be rotated with the cylinder.

Of" course the object sought or the work to be accomplished is the ruling of lines on the flexible screen, film, or paper.. To do this, I employ ruling mechanism comprising a feedreservoir E, containing an absorbent material e, which preferably protrudes slightly above the top of the feed-reservoir, which reservoir may be supplied with ink through apipe 6, com m unicating with a desired source ferential groove around the periphery of the inking-wheel; a shaft g, on which the rulin'g-wheelis mouuted,which shaftis supported on studs or pins g, fittinginto jeweled bearings or sockets in the ends of the shaft, so as to insure as smooth and frictionless a rotation of the ruling-wheel as practicable, and

- a flexible disk ,H, contacting with the screen or film being ruled, so as to impart rotation to the ruling-wheel and through it to the inking-wheel. These various parts entering into the ruling mechanism are substantially the same as those described in an application, Serial No. 677,960, filed by me on the 18th day of April, 1898, and need not be further described in detail. They are mounted and carried in a frame I, pivoted on pins or studs '5, as shown particularly in Fig. 3, so that the frame is permitted to rise and fall when passing over the strip of paper d or, in short, to accommodate itself to any inequalities on the surface of the screen or film being ruled. The pins or studs 'L' are mounted in the ears 1; of a plate J. (Particularly shown in Fig. 2.) This plate is arranged on the top of a vertical standard K, rising from the bedplate, and is permitted to oscillate in a horizontal direction through the fact that it is held in place by a screw, stud, or bolt'k passing down into the top of the standard, as particularly shown in Fig. 2. The frame I is provided with an extending tail I, which extends back over the plate J and is provided with a large hole 2' as shown in Fig. 2. An overreaching spring 1 made in whole or in part of spring material, is mounted on the '01 pins 2 so as to drop the ruling mechanism away from the screen or plate. This is permitted through the fact that the hole i in the tail of the frame is made. large, so that it can move up or down the screw 41 without interference. To restore the ruling mechanism to its ruling position, the parts are simply broughnback into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The spring is of sufficient resiliency to hold the frame and the ruling mechanism up with the desired pressure against the screen or film being ruled.

After one line has been ruled it is necessary to adjust the ruling mechanism laterally the distance desired for the ruling of the next succeeding line. It is to permit this that the plate J is mounted on the screw or stud, so as to permit horizontal oscillation, as already explained. In order to efiect the lateral adjust- ;ment or movement of the ruling mechanism the desired distance, I arrange an ad justingscrew L, (shown in Fig. 3,) having an arm lextending down from it,- so that as such arm is swung out or in the screwL will be turned and the plate J and the ruling mechanism moved laterallyin the one direction or the other.

I-employaspringM. (ShowninFig.3.) This causes the plate and the ruling mechanism to follow the screen when it is loosened or turned from the plate, and thus certainly secure thedesired adjustment irrespective of the way the screw is turned. To turn the screw by swinging the arm L, I arrange a horizontal rod N,to which the arm is attached, in the upturned ends at and n of a plate 0, fastened to the bed-plate of the machine. The rod N is provided with a stop a", which prevents the rod from being drawn out beyond a predetermined distance, while the head N of the rod prevents it from being pushed in beyond a predetermined distance.

This insures the invariable rotation of the screw L the desired distance to secure the lateral adjustment or movement of the plate J and the ruling mechanism the desired distance. If, for instance, a given number of To hold the plated against the end of the screw L, 7

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will by such action be moved laterally the width of one line, so that the next line may be commenced. Of course after the line is started the right distance from the preceding line the ruling-wheel will place it such distance as long as the cylinder is rotating and traveling past the ruling mechanism through the threaded screw 0, on which it is mounted, as already explained.

In order to inspect the work from time to time as the lines are being ruled, I arrange a microscope P in front of the cylinder, so that the lines which are too fine for the naked eye are brought out in sufficient size to be examined. In case it appear from such inspection that from any cause a lineis being placed too close to or too far from the preceding line the rod N can be moved in or out a desired distance, so as to secure just such latteral adjustment of the ruling mechanism as may be necessary to correct the defect or imperfection.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for ruling flexible photographic screens, films or papers, the combination of a rotatable cylinder for carrying the material to be ruled wrapped therearound, means for rotating the cylinder, mechanism for ruling parallel lines on the material while wrapped around the cylinder at a predetermined distance apart, and means for moving the cylinder longitudinally, while rotating, past the ruling mechanism, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for ruling flexible photographic screens, films orpapers, the combination of a rotatable cylinder for carrying the material to be ruled wrapped therearound, means for rotating the cylinder, mechanism for ruling parallel lines on the material While wrapped around the cylinder at a predetermined distance apart, means for moving the cylinder longitudinally, while rotating, past the rulingmechanism, and means for a just- .ing the ruling mechanism laterally on the cylinder a desired or predetermined distance, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for ruling flexible photographic screens, films orpapers, the combination of a rotatable cylinder for carrying the material to be ruled wrapped therearound, means for rotating the cylinder, mechanism for ruling parallel lines on the material while wrapped around the cylinder at a predetermined distance apart, means for moving the ruling mechanism out of contact With the material, and means for moving the cylinder longitudinally, while rotating, past the ruling mechanism, substantially as described.

4:. In a machine for ruling flexible photographic screens, films or papers, the combination of a rotatable cylinder for carrying the material to be ruled wrapped therearound, means for rotating the cylinder, mechanism for ruling parallel lines on the material while wrapped around the cylinder at a predetermined distance apart, means for permitting the ruling mechanism to adjust itself to inequalities on the surface of the material, and

means for moving the cylinder longitudinally,

while rotating, past the ruling mechanism, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for ruling flexible photographic screens, films or papers, the combination of a rotatable cylinder for carrying the material to be ruled wrapped therearound, means for rotating the cylinder, mechanism for ruling parallel lines on the material while wrapped around the cylinder ata predetermined distance apart, means for holding the ruling mechanism in yielding contact with the material, and means for moving the cylinder longitudinally, while rotating, past the ruling mechanism,substantially as described.

6. In a machine for ruling flexible photographic screens, films or papers, the combination of a rotatable cylinder for carrying the material to be ruled wrapped therearound, means for rotating the cylinder, mechanism for ruling parallel lines on the material while wrapped around the cylinder at a predetermined distance apart carried by a pivoted frame mounted on a horizontally-adjustable plate, and means for moving the cylinder longitudinally, while rotating, past the ruling mechanism, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for ruling flexible photographic screens, films or papers, the combination of a rotatable cylinder for carrying the material to be ruled wrapped therearound, means for rotating the cylinder, mechanism for ruling lines on the material while wrapped around the cylinder carried by a pivoted frame mounted on a horizontally-adjustable plate, a vertical standard carrying the plate, a screw, stud or bolt connecting the plate to the standard, and means for moving the cylinder longitudinally, while rotating, past the ruling mechanism, substantially as described.

8. In a machine for ruling flexible photographic screens, films or papers, the combination of a rotatable cylinder for carrying the material to be ruled Wrapped therearound,

means for rotating the cylinder, mechanism for ruling lines on the material While Wrapped around the cylinder carried by a frame provided with an extending tail having a hole therethrough and with an overreaching spring over the extending tail having a notch therein and mounted on a horizontallyadjustable plate having a screw or pin passing up through the hole in the extending tail and the notch in the spring, and means for moving the cyl inder longitudinally, while rotating, past the ruling mechanism, substantially as described.

9. In a machine for ruling flexible photographic screens, films or papers, the combina-- tion of a rotatable cylinder for carrying the material to be ruled wrapped therearound and mounted on a screw-shaft threaded at one end, a threaded bearing through which the threaded portion of the screw-shaft passes, a

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driving-shaft provided with a longitudinal keyway, a short hollow shaft surrounding the driving-shaft and keyed thereto in the longitudinal keyway, a driving-pulley mounted on the short hollow shaft, and mechanism for ruling parallel lines on the material while wrapped around the cylinder at a predetermined distance apart, substantially as described.

10. In a machine for ruling flexible photographic screens, films or papers, the combination of a rotatable cylinder for carrying the material to be ruled wrapped therearound and mounted on a shaft threaded at one end, a threaded bearing through which the threaded portion of the screw-shaft passes, a drivingshaft provided with a longitudinal keyway, universal joint connection between the threaded screw-shaft and the driving-shaft, a short hollow shaft surrounding the drivingshaft and keyed thereto in the longitudinal keyway, a driving-pulley mounted on the short hollow shaft, means for rotating the pulley, and mechanism for ruling lines on the material while wrapped around the cylinder, substantially as described. 7

11. In a machine for ruling flexible photographic screens, films or papers, the combination of a rotatable cylinder for carrying the material to be ruled wrapped therearound and mounted on a screw-shaft threaded at one end, a threaded bearing through which the threaded portion of the screw-shaft passes, a driving-shaft provided with alongitudinal keyway, a short hollow shaft surrounding the longitudinal shaft and keyed thereto in the longitudinal key'way, supplementary brackets in which the short hollow shaft is mounted, a driving-pulley mounted on the short hollow shaft, and mechanism for ruling lines on the material while wrapped around the cylinder, substantially as described. p

ELLSWVORTH E. FLORA.

Witnesses! THOMAS B. MoGREeoR, THOMAS A. BANNING. 

